Blackpool donkey (part 2)

Now in part 1, I talked about a meal I had with a good Friend.
He arrived in town on Tues so after my super sat exit we headed away from the casino to eat & talk.
I asked him if I could name him on this blog but he did not want it so respect there.
I met him a four years ago and we just clicked.
He has amassed a decent bankroll mainly from sports betting and some from poker.
He was a great help when I was trying to rebuild a bankroll after going skint in the past. Mistakes were identified and corrected and to be honest I don't think I would of stayed in poker if it was not for him.

Anyway we were now faced with a different problem than last time.
My confidence is shattered where as before I just did not have the bankroll to survive.
Now financially I am pretty much sorted in that department however I wished the credit crunch would go away soon.
The tournament selection is one thing that is wrong.

I should not be playing ten pound re buy,s at all unless it,s a social evening.
I would be better off playing freeze outs and larger re buy events it is obvious to me now that I am no longer hungry enough to compete in these comps.
They served there purpose when rebuilding but not now. I am not saying I am to big or good for the game as that is certainly not the case, it is just not the right event for me to play.
As most main event and side events are freeze out,s now, surely that is what I should be playing.
Also the amount of comps I play a week is too many it averages 3 at the mo.
We researched the net and come up with a couple of freeze outs in Leeds, two a month costing £100.00 & £200.00.
Dusk to dawn hold there monthly 123 weekend which is not too far to travel.
Newcastle hold a £50.00 freeze out on a Saturday.
Stockport hold a twice weekly £50.00 re buy which attracts a large number and a good pot. They also hold a monthly £250.00 re buy which consistently takes 40k.

I was reminded by my Friend of the goals we set which consisted of travelling to better comps rather than local all the time.
I have kept a record of every comp I have played and looking back I can see when I would think nothing of travelling down to Leeds, Sheffield Manchester and even every couple of months London.
But apart from Stockport or Festivals I have not travelled out of the north east at all now it is apparent to me things have to change.

I will not be missimg from Teeside at all. I will still play the occasional comp as I cant travel all the time just less that,s all.

The change will not happen overnight it will happen gradually probably into next year.
I will always support my local casino but I just have to change my schedule and as targets have been set it is the right decision.

The man hours I use per week on poker, sports betting trading cash games etc has got to decrease.

Trading has become obvious to me that is one area where a Increase in hours is going to be of benefit.
I fitted in last week 10 hours and returned £425.00 so if anything this will increase as time allows.

So with a breath of confidence Blackpool was a positive experience. We may of lost financially but I/WE have identified problems and found solutions.
When I previously said I had not lost the hunger I think that was not correct, the hunger has returned, the cobwebs dusted away and a new outlook has dawned.

I think in poker every player should have someone they can bounce ideas off, talk hands and situation,s through. I know locally I talk a lot with Howie Dave and john it certainly helps.
Also you should be able to self analyze, find faults and be honest with yourself and correct them.

I went to Blackpool confident in my own ability but did not see the other factors that were affecting my game.

However to put things in perspective our bankroll has grown so more fine tuning than major surgery.

SO now over to our bankroll.

Previous balance £16,268.00

Blackpool costs £1510.00 (INCLUDING COSTS)

Trading + £625.00

Previous comps and sports -£360.00

Balance now £15,023.00

Now to our weekly feature the

"Star in a reasonable priced blog".

2ND of five.

Many people have tried to 2nd guess the star in the reasonable priced blog but no one came up with Keith "the camel" Hawkins.

Keith lives in Middleton Tyas near to scotch corner and as far as I am concerned that is in the north east

Keith would probably admit he is not as well known in the north east as some, as he prefers the lure of the net rather than the local comps.
But what is not in doubt is Keith's natural ability in large national comps.

Keith has been playing poker as early as 1999, winning his first comp in 2000 in Southampton and from there has the best record of any north east player.

Keith sits proudly at number 38Th in the UK;s all time money list highest of all north east players and one of only three from the north east in the top 100.

When looking at Keith,s record what stands out is his consistency year in year out. Final after Final which shows Keith's ability for the game.
He has had more wsop cashes than any north east player and recently finished 75th in this years main event at the wsop a fantastic performance.

One little known fact is Keith went to school with Neil Channing. You can picture the scene now come on Keith lets play poker for dinner money!

There is no doubt Keith will go from strength to strength and continue his high placed finishes through out his career.

Most recently Keith finished 3rd in the Tees side gala festival,s main event.

Keith is at the standard all north east players must hope to attain. Top of the tree in all departments, number of cashes, most money won, highest ranked, the list is endless.

Quite out of character Keith was in Tee side gala less than 12 hours before this blog was published, maybe just maybe he had got wind of this publicity and thought he would attend for a autograph session.

So here we have it Keith "the camel Hawkins " joining Steven " lucky " Lui in our
"star in a reasonable priced blog".

So tune in next week to find out who will make a appearance in our top five north east players,
and
find out if me going back to basics produces results

*************************************************************************************
This bit of info certainly does not belong at the bottom of this blog really it should be at the top.
Congratulations go to Tom Middleton a regular in Newcastle who secured a £20,000.00 pay day in the £500.00 event at Blackpool.
Tom dominated a high class feild to record hid highest live cash of his career.
The only down side to this is Tom spoilt a future feature of mine called
"one,s to watch"
However I did pick out Tom as one to watch on a post on the Newcastle poker forum a few months ago so don,t feel to bad.

Congratulations Tom on a fantastic result the 3rd highest in the north east in 2008 so far.
Well done



until nest week l8